The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-01-07
STORIES ABOUT LINCOLN.
His old LawPsrtner, william n. Herndoa, 1
dulges In "Reminiscences.


HIS old aHPsrtner, William n. Herndon, In.
dulges In "reminiscences.
Chicago Tribune.
Lincoln's old law partner, William
ID. Herndon, was in the city for few
days. He was seen at the rooms OF
the "Lincoln Memorial Collection" en-.
PERTAINING several interested listeners
with "reminiscences OF the great man
during his career as an Illinois at
torney.
"Yes," said Mr.. Herndon, "I could
always tell when Lincoln was in agood
humor or not by observing him as he
entered the office at 8 or half-past 8
III the morning. Ii verything was Sc
rene and pleasant he would take seat
IN a wooden chair, throw his feet
over the stove, and began telling yarns.
he would keep this up until dinner
time, and very little work would be
done through the forenoon. lion the
other hand, matters had not been as
pleasant as they might, he would drop
into the office in a quiet, unobtrusive
way and, after taking seat, would
proceed to make his breakfast on
crackers and cheese Sometimes his
depression would wear off in an hour
OF SO, and hisgenial. sunshiny dispo.
sition reassert itself He was not a
great student. He was what is called
case lawyer. Given case he would
first familiarize himself with all the
facts and then look up. the reports
containing similar adJudicated cases.
lie was sympathetic at all times and
never bitter or abusive.
1--WE had an odd way of keeping our
accounts. We never kept any books,
but when we We're paid a fee would sim
ply divide it. When Lincoln was out
on the circuit making money he did
Just the same as when at home. If he
received a $40 for services he would
take So, and wrapping piece OF pa
per around it, with The simple word
'Billy'-that's what he always called
me-written thereon, would place it in
his pocket-book asked him one day
why he did this and his reply was:
"Well, il l should happen to die with
some OF your money in my pocket
how would any one know if it wasn't
marked?' The last fee divided with
hiiii Ntto SllOIulS DeloEe MS inaugural
ton as president | had received
$500 from an estate for which our
firm had been doing business, and
when | offered Mr.. Lincoln the money
he refused to take it until told him
where 1T came from.
ellis love affairs? Oh, well, I can
recall two cases, and believe the first
one, where the young lady died, had
more to do with his sadness in after
life than anything else The young
lady was. Miss Ann Rutledge, vino
came to Illinois from the south She
had been engaged prior to her meeting
with Mr.. Lincoln, but failing to hear
from the young man came to believe
that he did not care for her. Mr. Lin
coin was very attentive, and after a
time they became engaged. A few
months before they were to have been
married she died. The blow was Sc
we're one to Mr.. Lincoln, and it was
several years before he ceased talking
about her. He was rejected by a
young lady in 1887, and from that
time until 1912, when he married
Miss Todd, he was not especially at
tentlve 10 any one"
Mr.. Herndon has practically retired
from the law, and is engaged in farm
ing about six miles north OF Spring
field.